SUNDAY FLORIDA EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

We begin our weekly look at newspaper opinion across the Sunshine State in South Florida, where today's Miami Herald editorial advocates that Congress needs to seriously consider a catastrophic-event insurance programme modeled after the current one for flood insurance.

Just up I-95 in Fort Lauderdale, the South Florida Sun Sentinel looks at the case of Jose Padilla, an American citizen who authorities claim fought for Al-Qiada in Afghanistan whose detention without charges was upheld last week by an appellate court. The editorial says that the Constitution is clear on the issue of due process of law, and that while Padilla is by means no angel, he should be charged with a crime or released.

Today's Palm Beach Post editorial notes the decline in African-American enrollment at Florida's 11 public universities, and that while Governor Jeb Bush can try to highlight certain numbers, the overall drop is evidence that his "One Florida" initiative is a failure.

Jumping across to Southwest Florida, the Naples Daily News offers criticism of the Collier County School Board for failing to include a "no gifts" component for school board members into it's ethics policy.

Just up I-75, the Fort Myers News-Press reminds readers that massive, disruptive projects such as the current widening of Summerlin Road is the price an area pays for growth.

The Sarasota Herald Tribune opines that United States Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee John G. Roberts, Jr. has the technical qualifications for the job, but what kind of heart and soul he would bring remains an engima. It's impression is that while America could do worse for a Chief Justice, the Bush administration was unlikely to do better.

Also on the issue of Judge Roberts, the St. Petersburg Times advocates that Senate Democrats vote to confirm him as Chief Justice, saving their firepower for the next nominee who would replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Today's Orlando Sentinel also endorses his confirmation, saying he is "highly qualified".

Across the bay, today's Tampa Tribune editorial calls on Congress to begin seriously looking at real solutions to the high costs of gas, noting that the spotlight belongs on the big oil companies, who are reaping record profits, and that alternative sources, conservation, and a policy of new laws and reserves that prevent oil companies to manipulating prices should be considered.

Heading along I-4 back home, the Lakeland Ledger talks about saving gas...or children. It slams a recent decision brought to light Thursday in the Miami Herald that the Florida Department of Children and Families has suspended requiring monthly personal visits by caseworkers to children in foster case as a means of saving money on fuel. BTW: Jeb! ordered DCF to scrap that idea after being questioned about it by a reporter.

Speaking on saving money on fuel, the Daytona Beach News-Journal does not advocate cutting prices through tampering with the fuel tax through a "tax holiday" or other means.

On the Space Coast, Florida Today is supportive of Brevard County School Superintendent Dr. Richard DiPatri's plans to overhaul it's high schools.

Costs of road building and improvement, and how much of that to charge developers, is the concern or the Ocala Star-Banner editorial today, noting that Ocala and Marion County need a written, calculated formula for how much to charge developers...something it doesn't have now.

Although it's nowhere near the Gulf of Mexico, the Gainesville Sun is concerned about red tide that has been plaguing the coast, saying one big step to helping the situation would be for the state Department of Enviromential Protection to do a better job of cleaning up what goes into the Gulf.

Heading into North Florida, we start in Jacksonville, where the Florida Times-Union editorial notes the increasing problem in the state's hot real estate market of fraudulent deeds transferring vacant property. It reminds consumers to pay your taxes and do your homework on the ownership histories of any land you buy.

The Tallahassee Democrat salutes and calls on the community and state to support Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell's ambition for the school to earn membership in the Association of American Universities, a goal which the University of Florida reached in 1985. The organization seeks to advance the international standing of U.S. research universities.

And this morning's editorial in this morning's Pensacola News Journal calls on the Legislature to step up where the U.S. Supreme Court erred in weakening private property rights by a 5-4 vote and restrict such abuses.

Enjoy your Sunday!